Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Patrick John Cosgrove, known as Pat, was the only son of John and Margaret (née Sullivan or O’Sullivan) Cosgrove. John and Margaret, both of Irish descent, married in January 1884 at Timaru. Patrick had three older sisters and three younger sisters. Little Johannah died in infancy (1893) at Timaru. None of the other five sisters (Mary known as May, Ellen known as Nellie, Margaret known as Maggie, Catherine known as Katie, and Theresa) married; all died in Christchurch and were buried at Bromley Cemetery. He was born, as Patrick Cosgrove, on 6 July 1889 at St Andrews, South Canterbury. Along with his sisters, Patrick was educated at Adair and Salisbury schools in South Canterbury. In 1901 P. Cosgrove of Salisbury School entered the 75 yards under 12 boys’ race at the Schools Amateur Athletic Association meeting. Early in 1902 the family moved to Christchurch. The employees of Holme station met on 7 February 1902 in the large granary on the station, to make a farewell presentation to Mr John Cosgrove, who had been for the last 21 years on Holme station as coachman, and who was shortly leaving for Christchurch, where he intended to resume his old billet with Mrs E. Elworthy, now of Christchurch, and late of Timaru. Mr H. Elworthy spoke a few words on the good services that Mr Cosgrove had rendered whilst at Pareora, and had much pleasure, on behalf of the employees, in presenting him with a beautiful marble clock, as a remembrance of the good relations that existed between him and his fellow-workmen. He also presented Mrs Cosgrove with a nice lamp on behalf of the girls of the house, as a remembrance of the happy days she had once spent there as a servant. Mr Cosgrove thanked them very much for their handsome presents. “He would always look back with pleasure on the happy days spent at Pareora.” After the presentation a dance was held, songs being contributed at intervals. Altogether a most enjoyable gathering was held.

P. Cosgrove, a youth slightly under 15 years of age, was charged with breaking the law on 17 June 1904, by smoking a cigarette on Montreal Street. He pleaded guilty, and, a lenient view of the case being taken, he was convicted and discharged. He would be 15 years of age on July 7. Patrick was probably a member of the Linwood team who played in the seven-a-side football tournament on 24 May 1907 at Timaru. Patrick Cosgrove was an active member of his church in Christchurch North. St Mary’s branch of the Hibernian Society was inaugurated at the beginning of February 1914, and P. J. Cosgrove was elected treasurer. At the half-yearly meetings, held in July 1914, in January and July 1915, and again in January 1916, he retained that position. In June 1914 he and another member were chosen to represent the branch on the Catholic Federation. He always took a keen interest in the welfare of the branch.

Patrick John Cosgrove, a traveller of 406 Durham Street, registered for service with the Reinforcements (Artillery) at Christchurch on 1 December 1915, and he had passed the medical examination. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 32-35 inches. His complexion was sallow, his eyes grey and his hair brown. He was in good bodily and mental health, his sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs being all normal, his limbs and chest well formed, his teeth a ‘pass’, and being without diseases, illnesses and fits. Although there were some slight defects, they were not sufficient to cause rejection. He had a scar on the under surface of his chin and a pigmented mole on his left scapula. He had been residing at this address with his parents and sisters since he started work as a clerk. On 12 January 1916 at the Catholic Cathedral, Christchurch, Patrick John Cosgrove married Hannah Mary Grigsby of Melbourne, Australia.

In February 1916 he was selected for the Artillery in the Christchurch complement of the Fourteenth Reinforcements. He left for the North on 5 April 1916 with the Artillery of the Fifteenth Reinforcements. “The men, taken as a whole, were well up to the standard of previous quotas. They were, however, probably the quietest lot of recruits who have left Christchurch.” After farewell speeches, the men marched to the Christchurch railway station, accompanied by bands. He was 26 years 9 months of age when he enlisted on 5 April 1916. A traveller for the Canterbury Engineering Company and Roman Catholic, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs H. M. Cosgrove, 69 Rugby Street, St Albans, Christchurch. Prior to leaving for Trentham, he was presented with a purse of sovereigns from his fellow employees at the Canterbury Engineering Company’s Works and wished God-speed and a safe return. And a suede pocketbook was presented to Brother P. J. Cosgrove by the members of St. Mary’s branch of the Hibernian Society. At that time, it was thought that he was leaving with the Fifteenth Reinforcements, and also in July 1916 when he came home on final leave.

Posted initially to the 15th Reinforcements, he was transferred to the 19th on 30 July 1916. While at Featherston he forfeited 3 days’ pay for overstaying his leave by some 57 hours. In September 1916, while at camp, Gunner P. J. Cosgrove, of the New Zealand Field Artillery of the 19th Reinforcements, was promoted to the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant, and transferred to the 23rd Reinforcements. On 18 October 1916 at Nurse Gregg’s, St Albans, Christchurch, a son (Brian Anthony) was born to Hannah and Patrick. It was 19 January 1917 when Quartermaster Sergeant P. J. Cosgrove embarked with the New Zealand Field Artillery (21st Reinforcements) at Wellington for Plymouth, England, per the “Waitemata”. Disembarking at Devonport, England on 28 March, he marched in at Aldershot and reverted to the rank of Temporary Sergeant. He then reverted to Gunner on 20 April 1917 at Chadderton, for drunkenness.

Leaving for France on 7 June 1917, he marched into camp at Etaples before being posted to the 3rd Battery in the Field on 22 June. The Casualty List published in early August 1917 listed Gunner P. J. Cosgrove among the wounded. With the Field Artillery, he had been wounded in action on 22 July. Admitted on 22 July, he was transferred to the Divisional Rest Station on 28 July, then discharged on 3 August and rejoined his Unit the next day. On 24 September 1917, Patrick Cosgrove was penalized – awarded 10 days Field Punishment No. 2 - for disobedience of an officer and absence from billets after 9pm. Proceeding on leave to the UK on 11 February 1918, P. J. Cosgrove rejoined his Unit on 28 February. On 15 December 1918 he was awarded two days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited two days’ pay by Royal Warrant. Having gone to the UK on leave again on 29 December 1918, he rejoined on 18 January 1919. Not quite three weeks later – on 7 February 1919, he was evacuated to hospital (2nd New Zealand Field Ambulance), suffering from influenza. Four days later at 64th Casualty Clearing Station he was placed on the Dangerously Ill List. Patrick John Cosgrove died of pneumonia at the 64th Casualty Clearing Station in the Field, France on 14 February 1919, aged 29 years. Gunner Cosgrove was buried in the Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany. By this time, Mrs Cosgrove had moved to Melbourne.

At the fortnightly meeting of St. Mary’s branch H.A.C.B. Society (Christchurch), held on Monday evening, 3 March 1919, special reference was made to the sad news just to hand of the death, in France, of one of the members, Bro. P. Cosgrove. A resolution of condolence with the relatives was moved and carried in silence. Bro. Cosgrove was the first treasurer of the branch, a position which he held with credit up to the time of his enlisting with the 15th Reinforcements; and it was resolved that the branch approach the Holy Table on Sunday and have Mass said for the repose of the soul of deceased.

His medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal), memorial plaque and scroll were all despatched to his wife then living in Melbourne with family. Hannah and Brian spent the rest of their lives in her native Australia. Hannah Mary Cosgrove, who practised the craft of milliner, married again in 1930 in Victoria, to William Plumstead. Brian Anthony Cosgrove who had been born at Christchurch, was a clerk and single when he enlisted voluntarily in the Australian Military Forces in 1934. A soldier at Brisbane in 1943, he went on to enlist with the Second Australian Imperial Force in World War Two, his next-of-kin Ann Plumstead (his mother). Hannah died in 1965 in Victoria. Brian who married and had a son, died on 23 March 2015 at the grand age of 98 and was cremated at Pinnaroo. Patrick’s mother, Margaret Cosgrove, had died at her Christchurch residence on 21 September 1940 and his father, John Cosgrove likewise on 4 June 1943. They were buried at Bromley Cemetery. As for his sisters - Mary died at the Mary Potter Hospital in 1978; Ellen at Mary Potter in June 1979; Margaret at her residence in 1958; Catherine at Christchurch in 1964; and Theresa at Mary Potter in February 1979. Requiem Masses were celebrated for all at St Mary’s, Manchester Street.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [06 January 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0028671); CWGC [06 January 2014]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Branch) [06 January 2014]; Timaru Herald, 30 March 1901, 11 February 1902, 24 May 1907, 11 August 1917, Press, 2 July 1904, 6 April 1916, 28 February 1919, 5 March 1919, 23 September 1940, 5 June 1943, 18 January 1958, 3 February 1964, 12 January 1978, 5 February 1979, 27 June 1979, New Zealand Tablet, 5 February 1914, 11 June 1914, 23 Jul 1914, 21 January 1915, 6 July 1915, 20 January 1916, 13 April 1916, 6 July 1916, 13 March 1919, Star, 2 December 1915, 23 February 1916, Sun, 2 December 1915, 5 April 1916, 9 August 1917, Lyttelton Times, 19 February 1916, 27 October 1916, 5 March 1919, Evening Post, 18 September 1916, Wanganui Herald, 9 August 1917, Colonist, 10 August 1917, Otago Daily Times, 10 August 1917, NZ Times, 28 February 1919 (Papers Past) [06 January 2014; 05, 06 & 08 April 2021; 05 June 2022; 10 May 2026]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [16 January 2014]; NZ & Australian Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au)

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• COSGROVE Patrick John - newspaper clippings (pdf, 106.0 KB updated 16-Jul-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS